Leioa vs Athletic Club

Athletic needed just seven minutes to open the scoring. Jesús Areso's cross from the right found Robert Navarro, who finished coolly to make it 1-0. Three minutes later, a Guruzeta shot cannoned back off the post and Álvaro Djaló was quickest to the rebound, slotting home the second.

Guruzeta then took centre stage. The striker scored twice in three minutes — first from a Johaneko Louis-Jean delivery (17'), then by pouncing on a loose ball inside the area (19') — to make it 4-0 inside 20 minutes. Djaló added his second on 25 minutes from Oihan Sancet's through ball, before Navarro bagged his brace with a powerful solo run in the 31st minute.

Guruzeta completed his hat-trick in the 41st minute, heading home a Navarro free-kick — Athletic's first set-piece goal of pre-season under newly-appointed set-piece specialist Andrew Hughes.

Half-time: Leioa 0-7 Athletic Club

Terzić changed all but one outfield player at the break, with only Iker Monreal remaining on the pitch. Álex Berenguer made it eight on the hour mark, tapping into an empty net after Asier Hierro's pass. An own goal by Leioa's Artola from an Elijah Gift cross made it 9-0 in the 80th minute, before Hierro completed the scoring with a brace — a powerful solo run with a nutmeg in the box (83') and a counter-attacking finish from Gift's cross (90').

The match was effectively over after seven minutes. Leioa, a side that competes in the Tercera Federación (Spain's fifth tier) and only began pre-season training on the Tuesday, were overwhelmed by Athletic's intensity from the first whistle. The 0-7 half-time scoreline reflected the gulf in class between a La Liga side and a local neighbour three divisions below.

Terzić's tactical approach — a 4-2-3-1 shape defensively that morphed into a 3-4-3 in possession — created constant overloads. Areso's ability to step into central defence from right-back freed Djaló to attack the wide channel, a pattern that caused Leioa problems throughout the first half.

• Gorka Guruzeta — A 41-minute hat-trick (17', 19', 41') showcasing his predatory instincts. The striker was a constant menace inside the box and his movement created space for others. Combined with a goal ruled out, he could have had more.
• Robert Navarro — Two goals (7', 31') and an assist for Guruzeta's header. The winger has now scored four goals in two pre-season appearances (he also netted twice against CD Derio) and is making a strong case for a starting role under Terzić.
• Álvaro Djaló — Another productive outing from the winger, who scored twice (10', 25'), hit the crossbar with another effort, and linked effectively with Sancet and Areso down the right.
• Asier Hierro — The B-team striker came off the bench at half-time and scored a second-half brace (83', 90'), adding an assist for Berenguer's goal. His solo run and nutmeg for the 10th goal was the standout individual moment of the match.

Athletic scored 11 goals from 11 different sequences, with only one coming from a set-piece (Guruzeta's header from Navarro's free-kick). The first-half tally of seven goals from 45 minutes represents a strike rate of one goal every 6.4 minutes — unsustainable against stronger opposition but indicative of the sharpness Terzić's squad has shown in the opening phase of pre-season.

Leioa failed to register a shot on target across the 90 minutes. Athletic goalkeeper Álex Padilla (first half) and Simón García (second half) were barely tested, reflecting the one-sided nature of the contest.

The 14 Athletic goal-scorers across two friendlies (3 vs Derio, 11 vs Leioa) with zero conceded is a perfect start for Terzić, though both opponents play in the fifth tier or lower.

Athletic Club have now won both pre-season friendlies under Edin Terzić, scoring 14 goals and conceding none. The Lions face a step up in opposition next Wednesday (22 July) when they visit Sestao River at Las Llanas, followed by fixtures against SD Eibar (25 July, Zamudio), Racing Santander (29 July, Laredo) and Burgos CF (1 August, El Plantío).

La Liga 2026/27 begins for Athletic on 22 August away at Barcelona, with their first home match against Sevilla on 27 August.

Leioa, who compete in Tercera Federación Group 4, will take the experience as a stiff fitness test early in their own pre-season programme under coach Josu Juste.

This was a mismatch of the highest order — a La Liga side with a new manager's ideas to embed against a semi-professional opponent just days into pre-season. The scoreline tells you nothing about Athletic's competitive level, but the sharpness of the finishing, the variety of the goals and the tactical structure Terzić has already implemented in two weeks of training are encouraging signs. The real tests begin next week.

The match was played as part of Leioa's 500th anniversary celebrations. Athletic were without World Cup participants Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams, plus injured players Egiluz, Gorosabel, Nico Serrano, Vivian, Berchiche and Maroan Sannadi.